Author's posts
“Breaking News” – Jefferson Guest Djs 2023
Just as Jude Biwer and Ben Drzycimski arrived for their guest DJ shows, we learned that Carl Rowles and Matthew Nicholson had just been named the new directors of the Cedar Rapids Jefferson band program. Mr. Nicholson has been a part of the Jefferson program during his student teaching years and helped Steve Stickney from …
“Google Maps is not that Smart” – Clear Creek-Amana Guest Djs 2023
Ryan Humphrey and Jackson Schloss learned the hard way why you never use Google Maps to get to KCCK (it sends you to a random building on the north end of campus). But they arrived just in time to host their show, with music from Cannonball Adderly, Clifford Brown, Herbie Hancock, and more! https://spinitron.com/KCCK/pl/17293516/Corridor-Jazz-Guest-Djs-Clear-Creek-Amana
Culture Crawl 809 “Growing Your Own Replacements”
Orquesta Alto Maiz, Iowa’s Salsa Band, is still going strong in its 37th year. Original members Ed East and Jim Dreier sat down with us to talk about how the band actually created much of today’s interest in salsa and Latin Jazz. Along the way, members of the band who were, or who became teachers, …
“Surreal Moment” – Linn-Mar Guest Djs 2023
It’s been quite a year for the Linn-Mar Music Department. The Colton Center Jazz Ensemble took 2nd place in the 4A Jazz Championships, the highest placement of any area school. Linn-Mar’s Show Choir, Tenth Street Edition, took first place at the Show Choir Nationals in Nashville. Senior sax players Ryan and Abbey break down this …
“Mutton Chops!” Lisbon Guest Djs 2023
The Lisbon Community School District jumped from Class 1A to 2A for the 2022-23 school year. By just two students. This means that they have been punching above their weight all season. So when they won the NEIBA District Jazz Festival against all those larger schools, it was a sweet victory! And also meant that …
“Anamosa Rock I” – Anamosa Guest Djs 2023
Anamosa Jazz I, in its second year under director Gerardo Gomez, kind of had a worst-to-first experience this year. After receiving a poor rating at their first contest, the band went on to qualify for Jazz Championships for the first time in 30 years! And they didn’t stop once they got there, achieving a Top …
Culture Crawl 808 “The Inter-Connectedness of All Things”
Leslie Wright is director Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, focused on our relationships with ecology, spirituality, and holistic health. Leslie says, “if the sun is out, we’re open,” and anyone is welcome to come to Prairiewoods and take advantage of a rare opportunity to get close to Mother Nature. Prairiewoods will host “Spirituality in the 21st …
“Chunky Salsa” – Xavier Guest Djs 2023
Alec Battien is back for his 3rd round as a KCCK guest DJ, joined by fellow Xavier seniors Chris Cano and Sam Hoffman. We learn that Alec ATE the band’s mascot (a pineapple), and hear a song from Chris’s 5-hour Salsa playlist, as well as tunes from Charles Mingus, Bobby McFerrin, and many more! Alec, …